Page 16 • The Battalion Tuesday • April 30,151' A&M gymnastic teams take second place at Nationals Staff and Wire Reports After a disappointing start of the season, the Texas A&M Men’s and Women’s Gymnastic Teams tum bled into success two weeks ago when they captured second place at the NAIGC Collegiate National Championships. The women’s team placed be hind Miami by only 1.3 points with a score of 139.65, beating the Uni versity of Texas by 2.05 points. A&M’s Denise Bean, who was the 1995 national vaulting champion, walked away with the title on the uneven parallel bars. A&M Gymnastics coach Steve Waples said the second place team finish was very emotional because of an early injury by Bean. On the night before the competi tion, Bean sprained her right knee during practice and was expected not to be able to participate in the meet. Although Bean had trouble even walking on the knee, she altered her routines so that all weight would be placed on her left leg. Waples said Bean showed her en durance when she completed a per fect dismount off the bars, a front 1 and 1/2 with a 1/2 twist. He said a landing of that difficulty with a sprained knee was almost impossible. The A&M men’s team, which was not expected to be a factor in the team results, also walked away with a second place finish. Team Captain John Sides placed sixth the all-around and fifth on the vault and pummel horse, and Kevin Lally had a fifth place finish on both the floor exercise and the parallel bars. MBA Playoffs 996 The Sonics-Kings Series tied 1-1 Bulls-Heat Bulls lead 2-0 Lakers-Rockets Series tied 1-1 The 1996 NBA 0 ^ut